Medical Assisting Science

The program totals 60.5 credit hours and is designed to be completed in approximately 16 months of full-time study. Following Keiser's signature model, students take one class at a time in four-week terms, with new classes starting every month. Day, evening, on-campus, online, and hybrid formats are available at select campuses.

Coursework progresses from foundational sciences and medical terminology into clinical and laboratory procedures and medical office management, then into applied experience. Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in clinical and major courses to advance, and must pass a Program Assessment Examination before beginning Externship II. The program concludes with two supervised externship courses (Externship I and Externship II) completed at affiliated health care facilities under the supervision of licensed professionals, giving students real clinical and administrative experience before graduation.

The curriculum pairs a medical assisting major core, including anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, clinical and laboratory procedures, medical office management, and supervised externships, with general education coursework in communications, English, mathematics, natural and social sciences, and computers. Individual courses and credit hours are listed below.

Required Courses

Tuition at Keiser University is charged per 16-week semester based on scheduled credit hours. At the full-time rate (12–17.99 credits) of approximately $12,408 per semester, the Medical Assisting Science associate degree (about 60.5 credits over roughly four full-time semesters) carries an estimated tuition of approximately $49,600. In addition, a one-time $55 application fee and one-time $145 registration fee apply, and health-science programs may add per-course laboratory or resource fees; students should confirm current amounts with a financial services advisor. All figures are subject to annual review.

Financial aid is available to those who qualify and may include federal Pell Grants, FSEOG, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Federal Work-Study, as well as Florida's FSAG and EASE programs, institutional scholarships, and veterans' and military benefits. Students should file the FAFSA (School Code 015159) each year. For a personalized estimate, use Keiser University's Net Price Calculator at https://www.keiseruniversity.edu/NPC-index.html.

Estimated total program tuition of about $49,632 (full-time semesters at ~$12,408/semester); actual cost varies with pace and transfer credit.

Graduates are prepared for entry-level clinical and administrative medical assisting roles in physician offices, hospitals, outpatient and urgent care clinics, specialty practices (such as dermatology), diagnostic laboratories, nursing homes, and insurance companies. Common job titles include Clinical Medical Assistant, Certified/Registered Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Patient Care Coordinator, Medical Records Specialist, and Healthcare Administrative Assistant.

Upon completion, graduates are eligible to sit for national medical assisting credentialing examinations, including the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam offered by American Medical Technologists (AMT). Keiser's program preparation also supports other recognized credentials such as the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and certifications offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Certification requirements and eligibility can vary by credentialing body and campus.

Expect a hands-on, structured program that moves one class at a time so you can focus fully on each subject. Early terms build a science and terminology foundation, then move into clinical labs where you'll practice vital signs, injections, venipuncture, CLIA-waived lab tests, ECGs, and basic radiography on real medical equipment, alongside administrative training in scheduling, electronic health records, billing, and insurance claims.

Because this is a health-science program with patient contact, plan for practical performance standards and, at externship sites, likely immunization records, a background check, and drug screening. You'll need a "C" or better in clinical courses to progress and must pass a Program Assessment Examination before your second externship. The two supervised externships place you in real physician offices, clinics, or hospitals, so the program ends with genuine workplace experience and readiness to sit for a national certification exam.